u/sekiryu9

To me the best was the monk! It's really perfect comparing what was for examples;

• Starts with d6 instead of d4 for martial arts.
• No need to take normal attack to use bonus action attack or flurry of blows! (a very huge upgrade)
• Deflect attacks now any physical attack either if melee or ranged which is super flavorful and at higher level you can do with energy attacks too!
• Uncanny metabolism also fix a few problem like you can burn up ki/focus points now and regain them easily.

The worst? well the ranger!

Even if there are clear upgrades still i feel its lackluster with a no good identity or exclusive ceature/speciality!

• Depending too much on Hunter's mark!
• Hunter's mark still takes your concentration and by that clash with other cocnentration spells which reduce tactical thinking and you just think over more damage.
• Some of other spells still bad... lightning arrow become even worse... (Hail of thorns now actually good at least but still...)

Level 1:

Weapon Mastery and Spellcasting as normally. Not get Favored Enemy instead Roving and Natural Explorer.

• Also adding one thing to Roving: not just increase speed and gives swimming-climbing speed but add half of dex modifier rounded down to jump and atheletic checks.
• Natural Explorer: You can add half of your wisdom modifier rounded down to intelligence checks. (Become better with nature and investigation checks even some arcana, religion and history cause a ranger should be someone who seen many things and contacted with many things. Beside they are very MAD class...)

Making the ranger really agile and support more dex based builds. Also this first level gives them a good identity boost even more reason to dip 1 level into ranger.

Level 2-3-4-5 no changes.

Level 6:

• Normally here get Roving... Now get Land's Stride: but here either if its magical or not, terrain cannot slow down you. If forced to roll any ability check such as athletic or acrobatic then roll with advantage (for example if the floor is frozen or step in quicksand) and if its plant based then become immune to it either damage or other effects. So its very similar to 2014's version.

Level 7-8 no changes.

Level 9:

• Not get Expertise instead get "Relentless Hunter" but because has no Hm it will add constitution proficiency instead the og effect. Also this add +2 hit dice what can use normally for short or long rest. (or for any other features if some other class allow it)

Level 10:

• Tireless: a bit changing. You can give yourself temp hp with a bonus action and now its 1d12 not 1d8. You also can use these charges now to reduce others' exhaustion by 1 in a short rest but only to 1 character per short rest. (the other effects works normally)

Level 11-12 no changes.

Level 13:

• Get Nature's Veil at this level.

Level 15-16 no changes.

Level 17:

• Precise Hunter: Now you get advantage on attack rolls if concentrating on any spell.

Level 18-19 no changes.

Level 20:

• Foe Slayer: Deal extra dmg by your PB on attack rolls and spellcasting both!

Spell Changes:

You dont have anymore HUNTER'S MARK! Yep thats it! I think it cause more problem than resolve... Now you can use any other spell such as ensnaring strike, entangle, fog cloud, buzzing bee, gust of wind, pass without thrace, silence, spike growth, summon beast, conjure animal, elemental weapon, summon fey, wind wall, conjure woodland being, and more importantly swift quiver! Beside they cooperate with Precise Hunter and Relentless Hunter!

• Cordon Of Arrows: now works with any projectile-like thing such as stones. You can plant them on any surface not just on ground! Also can print creatures who wiill not trigger the trap and now deal half damage on a succeed dex save.
• Conjure Barrage: damage is 5d12 not 5d8. (from 22,5 avr to 32,5 avr for the reason to keep up some dmg because no more HM)
• Lightning Arrow: Now works similar way like Magic Missile BUT still roll for attack roll and use bonus action. It will always hit the target and cant miss except if roll 1 and still can roll for critical! Also Deal 5d12 to the target and around the target makes a dex saving throw with 3d12 dmg! (from avr 18 to 32,5 and the AoE from avr 9 to 19,5 aka slightly better than HoS BUT now has an actual garanteed hit what use a weapon attack roll.)
• Conjure Volley: Scales the same way; deal 8d12 not 8d8. (from avr 36 to avr 52)
• Steel Wind Strike: Not a ranger exlcusive spell but if would be then increase damage to 8d12! For example its a very bad spell to ranger cause use spell attack also a spell action! If miss then deal NOTHING! So this changes applies only if make into an exlcusive ranger spell and by this has an avr 52 not 33 dmg!

Subclass Edits: (only beast master and hunter)

Beast Master:

• Restoring/Replacing the Beast: Now on a short rest can either resummon or change a new one not just with long rest! Also after its death you can resurrect with a level 1 or higher spell slot but no need to touch the beast.
• The Best in Combat: Now as a free action you can use its movement, action and bonus action if has any! This helps for action economy for dual wield and BA spells BESIDE if casted on yourself haste then they could not attack twice if follow strictly the rules!
• Increased Beast Size: The land and Sea Beasts become large so can use them as mount. The sky remain Small until level 11. (not sure how strong flying... i mean dm usually just can bring up some flying enemies and ranged attacks anytime! If its too "strong" then put this on level 15)
• And instead of Bestial Fury I switching it with Share Spells! I think its better for fun than attack + X times... also this triggers always even if not the ranger casted the spell but an ally.

Hunter:

• Hunter's Lore: now work with bonus action.
• Defensive Tactics: Escape the Horde now let you to bypass on opportunity attacks. Cause im sure Multiattack Defense much more stronger than this!
• Superior Hunter's Prey: pick a second Hunter's Prey.

5.5E****

Level 1:

Weapon Mastery and Spellcasting as normally. Not get Favored Enemy instead Roving and Natural Explorer.

• Also adding one thing to Roving: not just increase speed and gives swimming-climbing speed but add half of dex modifier rounded down to jump and atheletic checks.
• Natural Explorer: You can add your half of wisdom modifier rounded down to intelligence checks. (be better with nature and investigation checks even some arcana religion and history cause a ranger should be someone who seen many things and contacted with many things beside they are very MAD class...)

Making the ranger really agile and support more dex based pcs. Also this first level gives them a good identity boost even more reason to dip 1 level.

Level 2:

Fighting Style and Deft Explorer.

Level 3-4-5 not changes

Level 6:

• Normally here get Roving... Now get Land's Stride: but here either if its magical or not terrain cannot slow down you. If its slippery then roll in advantage, if its plant based then become immune to it either damage or other effects. So its near identical with 2014's version but not matters if its magical or not.

Level 7-8 not changes

Level 9:

• Not get Expertise instead get Relentless Hunter in a way now its add constitution proficiency. Also this add +2 hit dice what can use normally for short or long rest. (or with other features if some other classes allow it)

Level 10:

• Tireless: a bit changing. You can give yourself temp hp with a bonus action and now its 1d12 not 1d8. You also can use these charges now to reduce others' exhaustion by 1 in a short rest but only to 1 character per short rest. (the other feature works normally)

Level 11-12 not changes

Level 13:

• Get Nature's Veil and not at level 14.

Level 15-16 not changes

Level 17:

• Precise Hunter: Now you get advantage on attack rolls if concentrating on any spell.

Level 18-19 not changes

Level 20:

• Foe Slayer: Deal extra dmg by your PB on attack rolls and spellcasting both!

Spell Changes:

You dont have anymore HUNTER'S MARK! Yep thats it! I think it cause more problem than resolve... Now you can use any other spell such as ensnaring strike, entangle, fog cloud, buzzing bee, gust of wind, pass without thrace, silence, spike growth, summon beast, conjure animal, elemental weapon, summon fey, wind wall, conjure woodland being, and more importantly swift quiver! Beside they cooperate with Precise Hunter and RElentless Hunter!

• Cordon Of Arrows: now works with any projectile like thing such as stones. You also can plant them on any surface! You also can print creatures whose will not activate the trap and now deal half damage on a succeed dex save.
• Conjure Barrage: damage is 5d12 not 5d8. (from 22,5 avr to 32,5 avr for the reason cause no more HM!)
• Lightning Arrow: Now works similar way like Magic Missile BUT still roll for attack roll and use bonus action. It will always hit the target and cant miss except if roll 1 and still can roll for critical! Also now Deal 5d12 to the target and around the target makes a dex saving throw with 3d12 dmg! (from avr 18 to 32,5 also the AoE from avr 9 to 19,5 aka slightly better than HoS BUT now has an actual garanteed hit)
• Conjure Volley: Scales the same; deal 8d12 not 8d8. (from avr 36 to avr 52)
• Steel Wind Strike: Not a ranger exlcusive spell but if would then increase damage to 8d12! For example its a very bad spell to ranger cause use spell attack also spell action! If miss then deal NOTHING! So this only if make into an exlcusive ranger spell and has an avr 52 not 33!

Subclass Edits:

Beast Master:

• Restoring/Replacing the Beast: Now after a short rest can either re-summon not just with long rest! Also after its death you can resurrect with a level 1 or higher spell slot but no need to touch it.
• The Best in Combat: Now as a free action you can use its movement, action and bonus action if has any! This helps for action economy for dual wield and BA spells BESIDE if casted on yourself haste then they could not attack twice if follow strictly the rules!
• Increased Beast Size: The land and Sea Beasts now large so can use them as mount. The sky remain Small until level 11. (not sure how strong flying... i mean dm usually just can bring up some flying enemies and ranged attacks anytime! If its too "strong" then put on level 15)
• And instead of Bestial Fury I switching it with Share Spells! I think its better for fun than attack + X times... Also change how any spell what the ranger willingly accepted now shares with the Beast but the turns halved or shared between them. (the ranger decide how to share)

Hunter:

• Hunter's Lore: now work with bonus action.
• Defensive Tactics: Escape the Horde now let you to bypass on opportunity attacks. Cause im sure Multiattack Defense much more stronger than this!
• Superior Hunter's Prey: pick a second Hunter's Prey.

Like sure ranger is not unplayable but it has major problems both in 5e and 5,5e!

Usually horrible synergy with spells and the dependency of hunter's mark what 5,5e even made much sharper line!

For example lightning arrow totally useless cause just deal way less damage than hail of thorns;
LA 4d8 to main target and 2d8 around the target which is 18 and 9 avr dmg.
HoS at same level weapon dmg+hunter's mark + 3d10 to the target and around the target which is 30 avr dmg! if used any +1 or +3 weapon then its more...

Then have barkskin which was improved for sure but when the ranger get this spell then either dont need nor any other companions!
17ac but at level 5 already have at least 4 modifier and +1 armor and even if has no +1 armor still studded leather with 4 dex is 16ac! keep in mind juggling weapons now a thing so can easly juggling back shields so even reach 18ac! And if use medium armor then its already over at level 1!

Sure the damage actually good especially on lower levels in fact deal more damage than the other class before level 11 and then just starts to be more equal but then at higher level totally get backed...
Even so the class has no any good identity or mechanic beside you are a blaster now!

Beside there are too much concentration spells which totally ban 2-3 features cause cant use hunter's mark in same time so either use any tactical and or mid spells or cast hm in the 30th times...

There are a lot of useful spells for sure but usually anyone else can do what you can but better! For example may a ranger know what a cleric a wizard and druid can do but not as good as they are and when there is chance to fail then who should cast those spells? that guy who can do +10 other tricks or that guy who can cast that specific spell with a garanteed success?
So a ranger really downplayed if any other caster is there on the table.

If im correct:

Hail of thorns deal weapon damage and add other bonuses like normally beside deal a 1d10 per spell level AoE damage.

Other hand Lightning arrow deal only 4d8 damage to the target and a 2d8 AoE damage around the target!

3rd level HoS avr 16,5 + 1d8(longbow)+5(dex)+1d6(HM) = 29,5

LA avr is 18

Am I missing something?

Im also searched up about resistances:

Piercing: 0 immunities, 34 resistances and 1 vulnerabile so its an okey damage type.

Lightning: 19 immunity, 38 resistance, 0 vulnerable!

so lightning much worse damage type than piercing...

I think the actual problem with ranger how its not being weak but being misunderstand or miscreated!

Actually ranger is a blaster/beast and has a very strong dpt and i think thats the main reason why people dislike it... it has very fair and good dmg but no utility cause the class itself not a striker in concept but a survivor with skills aka aragorn or geralt who survives not by pure endurance but by knowledge of wilderness and dangers!

For example in both 5e and 5,5e the ranger heavily outclass early game anyone else in dpt with the hunter's mark! At level 1-2 already can deal CONSISTENT +2d6 dmg and being the stronger until level 11 and even then the game just starts to be equal!

A fighter has NO advantage over the ranger even with action surge until end games neither paladins.

Even then a figher deal around 30 dmg with action surge its 60 per turn.
For paladin same 30 dmg then can smite to deal 48 dmg per turn.
And then a ranger 28dmg but keep in mind a ranger may dual wield cause benenfit more from hm stacks but even without it the ranger not really used up any resource while both fighter and paladin used up precisious resources as for ranger still can use hail of thorns to deal overall 45dmg!

Also ranger allow to use all bonuses with ranged attacks while paladins dont and most of games between lvl-1 to lvl-13 so most of time rangers are in huge advantage in dpt!

As for end game they also get a strong edge in consistency:
Using hm which gives advantages and cant break now also deal d10 so better to use with dual wield and its deal 64 overall consistent dmg with advantage. Over 5 turns deals 320 dmg.
Vs the fighter with 10 attacks each deal 250dmg but only to 2 turns then 50 so in 5 turns deals 400 dmg.
So there is no much dmg difference at this point.

So why still it feels bad to play?

Cause what i said a ranger totally misrepresented in dnd and become a blaster who out damage every other class up to 11! This is not the ranger what players want!

Problem how the class depending too much on hm cause of dmg and then it discourage you to use any other spell while neither the spells do any snyergy! And i think this 2 main reason why its really bad!
HM do too much dmg and no other spell synergy!

For example barkskin adjust your ac to 17 while you may get it without the spell! 12ac studded leather with +3dex +shield... as for weapon juggling you can switch anytime for your shield at this point beside its level 1 while get the spell at level 5 where already have +4dex so has 16ac without shield and may +1 armor or just take half plate and even at level 1 get 17ac without shield!
As a support spell still bad cause animal companions also all has same ac like normally 15-16...
To other members they just use mage armour and shield spell...
Or lightning arrow which now totally useless! Sounds good but does not trigger any bonus and deal less dmg than hail of thorns on same level what benefits HM and with other bonuses! 18 lightning and 9 in a smaller area vs 28 and 16 to a smaller area!

Sure some other spells really good especially utility but other hand in the party always there who know also such spells or rolls but better...!
So ranger never get its time except when its combat while possibilities is closed to deal lot of dmg and benefits 2/3 of your features!

A solution would be if add exploration more mechanics or ranger would benefits or add passive bonuses to the party itself and would function as a tactical not as a striker!

Is the magic type actually makes difference what spells and magical powers can use?

For example a wizard can learn cure wound with arcane magic or a druid with primal magic the command?

And some other questions:

1. For cleric its divine magic but for the god who give his power then its arcane magic?

2. primal magic is different in hell or other planes than on the earth/material plane or its exclusive to material plane? and if so then its means cant use primal magic in other planes?

3. a warlock get magic by the patron. So if the patron use primal or divine magic then the warllock why not use those but arcane?